B
Boabyboy
Here is an interesting article I have found on the Internet about the OEM
product activation issue:
http://apcmag.com/6090/microsoft_we_cant_afford_to_support_oem_vista :
extracted shown below:
Conventional wisdom holds that if you feel the urge to upgrade to Windows
Vista, buying it pre-installed on a new machine is the best way to go. The
advantages are allegedly twofold: there should be fresh and functional
drivers for all the built-in hardware, and you get OEM pricing (much lower
than the retail $400-$700 price range) for your new OS.
That discount pricing comes with a nasty twist, however. Because you've
purchased an OEM copy, Microsoft won't extend to you the courtesy of a
90-day support period for Vista, which it does offer to customers who
struggle through the upgrade process on their existing machines. Instead, it
will direct you straight back to your hardware manufacturer.
If, however, the manufacturer decides that you have a software problem
rather than defective hardware, it will send you straight back to Microsoft,
which will demand a consulting fee (currently $80 for Australian users) to
even think about the problem, and without offering anything approaching a
guaranteed fix.
In a characteristic fit of no comment, Microsoft declined to make a
spokesperson available to discuss the issue of its support policy with APC.
However, in a prepared statement, it offered the following minimal
justification for its help-no-customers approach: "Microsoft makes versions
of its software products available to manufacturers and system builders at
prices which reflect the expectation that the OEM will provide the
after-sales service, not Microsoft." Translation: we're not making enough
money from you to make it worth our while to fix your OS problems.
This is a breathtaking enough statement in its own right, but Microsoft also
offered an interesting twist. "In most cases, the support provided by the
OEM is as good, if not better than that provided by Microsoft because the
OEM is familiar with the system hardware as well as the software."
Translation: we don't know what our OEMs are installing, but we're certainly
not going to take responsibility for it. And by the way, the quality of our
own support is apparently open to question.
What does this mean in practical terms? If you anticipate needing support
for your Vista upgrade (and that certainly doesn't seem to be an uncommon
scenario), you might be better off purchasing a full retail copy and
claiming the free support. At $80 a pop, it won't be too long before you
make your money back.
*********************************************************************
My response to the story:
What absolute nonsense. Ok, I admit that the contract that all system
builders that purchase OEM software are responsible for there own support.
But, what I dont agree is that Microsoft offering drivers updates that
change the hardware hash key that forces vista to think that its is on a
different PC. I have also found another interesting article on the internet
is a hidden vista command called SkipReam which can prolonged the product
activation time. What do you think? I will contact Microsoft again soon for
one last try to resolve this issue and many thanks to those who have replied
to my posts. They were very helpful.
*********************************************************************
Previous posts:
PS:
If they forced you to take (5), don't let them get away easily this time.
As a customer, you have given them many chances before (5). So up to that
point, they deserve some lessons.
*********************************************************************
Installing the SATA driver update will do this. Apparently when you reboot
the hard drive is seen in a totally new light and the operating system
thinks that it is being used on a different computer because of this.
I experienced the same problem - almost. In my case I was informed that my
system was no longer "genuine", yet I was not given the opportunity to
reactivate. The activation was good but the system failed to pass the WGA
test. I could not repair this condition.
Luckily, I had an image I created the day before using TrueImage HOME 10.0.
I was able to go back to before I allowed the update. After going back I
went to Windows Update and hid the offending update so I would not
inadvertently select it in the future.
Another case of "If it ain't broke - Don't fix it".
--
Regards,
Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)
Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
product activation issue:
http://apcmag.com/6090/microsoft_we_cant_afford_to_support_oem_vista :
extracted shown below:
Conventional wisdom holds that if you feel the urge to upgrade to Windows
Vista, buying it pre-installed on a new machine is the best way to go. The
advantages are allegedly twofold: there should be fresh and functional
drivers for all the built-in hardware, and you get OEM pricing (much lower
than the retail $400-$700 price range) for your new OS.
That discount pricing comes with a nasty twist, however. Because you've
purchased an OEM copy, Microsoft won't extend to you the courtesy of a
90-day support period for Vista, which it does offer to customers who
struggle through the upgrade process on their existing machines. Instead, it
will direct you straight back to your hardware manufacturer.
If, however, the manufacturer decides that you have a software problem
rather than defective hardware, it will send you straight back to Microsoft,
which will demand a consulting fee (currently $80 for Australian users) to
even think about the problem, and without offering anything approaching a
guaranteed fix.
In a characteristic fit of no comment, Microsoft declined to make a
spokesperson available to discuss the issue of its support policy with APC.
However, in a prepared statement, it offered the following minimal
justification for its help-no-customers approach: "Microsoft makes versions
of its software products available to manufacturers and system builders at
prices which reflect the expectation that the OEM will provide the
after-sales service, not Microsoft." Translation: we're not making enough
money from you to make it worth our while to fix your OS problems.
This is a breathtaking enough statement in its own right, but Microsoft also
offered an interesting twist. "In most cases, the support provided by the
OEM is as good, if not better than that provided by Microsoft because the
OEM is familiar with the system hardware as well as the software."
Translation: we don't know what our OEMs are installing, but we're certainly
not going to take responsibility for it. And by the way, the quality of our
own support is apparently open to question.
What does this mean in practical terms? If you anticipate needing support
for your Vista upgrade (and that certainly doesn't seem to be an uncommon
scenario), you might be better off purchasing a full retail copy and
claiming the free support. At $80 a pop, it won't be too long before you
make your money back.
*********************************************************************
My response to the story:
What absolute nonsense. Ok, I admit that the contract that all system
builders that purchase OEM software are responsible for there own support.
But, what I dont agree is that Microsoft offering drivers updates that
change the hardware hash key that forces vista to think that its is on a
different PC. I have also found another interesting article on the internet
is a hidden vista command called SkipReam which can prolonged the product
activation time. What do you think? I will contact Microsoft again soon for
one last try to resolve this issue and many thanks to those who have replied
to my posts. They were very helpful.
*********************************************************************
Previous posts:
PS:
If they forced you to take (5), don't let them get away easily this time.
As a customer, you have given them many chances before (5). So up to that
point, they deserve some lessons.
xfile said:
*********************************************************************
Installing the SATA driver update will do this. Apparently when you reboot
the hard drive is seen in a totally new light and the operating system
thinks that it is being used on a different computer because of this.
I experienced the same problem - almost. In my case I was informed that my
system was no longer "genuine", yet I was not given the opportunity to
reactivate. The activation was good but the system failed to pass the WGA
test. I could not repair this condition.
Luckily, I had an image I created the day before using TrueImage HOME 10.0.
I was able to go back to before I allowed the update. After going back I
went to Windows Update and hid the offending update so I would not
inadvertently select it in the future.
Another case of "If it ain't broke - Don't fix it".
--
Regards,
Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)
Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!